April 8, 1904 The Entente Cordiale, which means "cordial agreement", was a group of agreements made between the two European countries, France and Great Britain. Both France and Great Britain representatives signed the agreements, which they came to by solving their disputes and compromising with each other. The Entente Cordiale was beneficial for both nations because it gave them both freedom to pursue their own interests in colonizing other countries. France was able to act on their interests in Morocco without interference from the British. Also, Britain was allowed to continue their actions in Egypt and the French couldn't do anything to stop their activity (Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com; Entente Cordiale (European History), Encyclopedia Britannica Online).
The Entente Cordiale was made based off of policies of Theophile Delcasse. Theophile Delcasse was the foreign minister of France, beginning in 1898. He thought that it would be best for France if they kept the relationship that they already had with Russia and formed a new one with Great Britain. After Delcasse was able to make agreements with Britain in the Entente Cordiale, he helped combine France, Russia, and Great Britain, together into an alliance. The alliance, called the Triple Entente was formed by the year 1907 (Theophile Delcasse (French Statesman), Encyclopedia Britannica Online; Entente Cordiale (European History), Encyclopedia Britannica Online; Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com). The friendship between Great Britain and France was very important in the colonization of Morocco. The Entente Cordiale ended up bringing the two countries closer. After the agreements were made Great Britain and France each provided support for each other. With support from Great Britain, France was able to make Morocco into a protectorate and with France, Great Britain was able to form a protectorate in Egypt (Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com). |
Franco-British Declaration, 1904
Article 1
His Britannic Majesty's Government declare that they have no intention of altering the political status of Egypt. Article 2
The Government of the French Republic declare that they have no intention of altering the political status of Morocco. Article 8
The two Governments, inspired by their feeling of sincere friendship for Spain, take into special consideration the interests which that country derives from her geographical position and from her territorial possessions on the Moorish coast of the Mediterranean. In regard to these interests the French Government will come to an understanding with the |
In the first article of the Entente Cordiale agreement between the British and France, the British government promises that they will not change the political status or government of Egypt. In return, the French government will not interfere with Britain's activity in Egypt. Even though Britain is able to colonize Egypt, both countries agree that some of France's activity in Egypt in the past will remain the same. For example, France is still able to run its schools in Egypt with the same freedom as they had before.
The second article of the Franco-British Declaration talks about France and Great Britain's agreement on Morocco. The French government is allowed to colonize Morocco if they don't mess with Morocco's political status. The British government says that they will not restrict France's actions in Morocco as long as the French activity doesn't prevent Great Britain's rights with Morocco. Great Britain must be allowed to continue its trading with Morocco. Article 8 of the Franco-British Declaration brings Spain into the agreement because both France and Great Britain have friendships with Spain. This article talks about how both nations also want to think about what Spain's interest are. The declaration describes Spain's interests as being based off of their location, because Spain is close to North Africa, and the territory that they already have. For those reasons, France says that they will make an agreement with Spain because both countries have shown interest in Morocco. Also, when the agreement is made, Britain needs to be informed about it. |